Stackable pallet

ABSTRACT

A pallet board is supported by two end frames of FIG. 8 configuration. Each end frame is bent from a single piece of channel bar stock. In the lower and upper portions of the end frames, the convex side of the channel is on the under side. This provides a rounded pallet runner on the bottom and a concave channel surface on top to interfit with the convex surface of the runner on another pallet in stacking. The pallet board is attached to intermediate portions of the end frames.

United States Patent Inventor Alfred C. Jensen 267 Wedgewood Drive, Eugene, Oreg. 97402 Appl. No. 780,360 Filed Dec. 2, 1968 a Patented Feb. 23, 1971 r STACKABLE PALLET 5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl. .4 108/53 Int. Cl 65d 19/18 Field of Search 108/51- References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1906 Bentley 108/53X 2,046,095 6/1936 Shaw 108/53X 2,695,050 11/1954 Quick 297/445 3,046,970 7/1962 Seaman 21 1/134UX 3,238,901 3/1966 Haaland 108/51 .I-Irimary Examiner -Bobby R. Gay Assistant Examiner-Glenn O. Finch Attofney- Lee R. Schermerhorn ABSTRACT: A pallet board is supported by two end frames of figure 8 configuration. Each end frame is bent from a single piece of channel bar stock. In the lower and upper portions of the end frames, the convex side of the channel is on the under side. This provides a rounded pallet runner on the bottom and a concave channel surface on top to interfit with the convex surface of the runner on another pallet in stacking. The pallet board is attached to intermediate portions of the end frames.

PATENTED mazalgn INVENTOR. ALFRED C. JENSEN A; orney STACKABLE PALLET BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a stackable pallet.

Various types of pallets have heretofore been proposed for different kinds of merchandise. For the most part, conventional pallets are heavy and relatively expensive. Most conventional pallets are not stackable when loaded without resting an overlying pallet on top of merchandise on an underlying pallet. Such a method of stacking is of limited application and SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present pallet is of three piece construction comprising a pallet board and a pair of end frames. Each end frame comprises a single length of channel bar stock bent into figure 8 configuration. The loops of the figure 8 are flattened to form runners on the bottoms of the frames, pallet board supporting rails in the middle and top rails to support an overlying pallet in stacking. The bar is bent in such a way that its convex side is on the under side of the runner and top rail portions. When the pallets are stacked, the downwardly convex runners on one pallet interfit with the upwardly concave rails on the underlying pallet to stabilize the stack.

The top rails are at a distance above the pallet board to increase the vertical space between the palletboards in a stack. This provides clearance space for merchandise with the pallet boards forming a tier of shelves which are accessible for the addition or removal of the merchandise without unstacking the pallets, if desired. The figure 8 end frame construction provides convent convenient access for the forks of a lift truck or the like so that the palletmay be approached for lifting at each of its four sides. This provides greater flexibility and convenience in placing and removing a stack of pallets in a storage area. I

The invention will bebetter understood and additional objects and advantages will become apparent from the-following description of the preferred embodiment-illustrated on the accompanying drawing. Various changes may bemade in the details of construction and arrangement of parts and certain features may be used without others; All such modifications are included in the in invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is a perspective view of a stackable the principles of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an end elevation view of the pallet;

F IG. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 in FIG. 2 but including a second pallet stacked on top of the first pallet; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view. on the line 4-4 in F IG 1 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT palletembodying bend at 17 forms a corner connecting with an intermediate horizontal portion 18 which provides a supporting rail for pallet board 10. The pallet board is secured to the rail by bolts 19 or other suitable fastening means. At the corner 20 the bar is bent upward to form a leg 21 for a top rail 22 and the end of the bar is bent downward to form another leg 23 with the end 24 located at the comer 17. End 12 is welded to corner portion 20 and end 24 is welded to corner portion 17.

The directions of the various bends are such that the convex side of runner 15 will be on its under side to provide a good sliding surface on a floor. The subsequent bends result in the intermediate rail 18 having its convex surface uppermost and the top rail 22 having its convex surface on the under side the same as runner 15. Thus, the top rail 22 is concave on its upper side to interfit with the convex under surface of the runner 15 of an overlying pallet to provide stability in stacking as shown in FIG. 3.

The channel may assume various shapes in cross section. For example, it may be V-shaped, polygonal, or it may be approximately an arc of a circle with uniform wall thickness. In order to obtain the best interfitting relationship in stacking and at the same time provide the best sliding surface for runner 15, the cross-sectional shape shown in FIG. 4 is preferred. The cross section varies in thickness with the convex surface 30 having the same radius of curvature as the concave surface 31. The runner 15 of an upper pallet then fits precisely in the recess of the top rail 22 of the lower pallet for maximum stability as shown in FIG. 3. V-shaped cross sections would fit equally well but would provide a less desirable shape of sliding surface on runner 15. Preferably, the cross-sectional shape is one suitable for aluminum extrusions so that lightweight materials may be used throughout.

When the pallets are stacked, they form the equivalent of a tier of shelves with vertical spaces between pallet boards equal to the combined lengths of the two vertical legs 13 and 21. The lengths of these legs may be varied to suit the vertical height of the packages or articles transported or stored on the pallets. It is, of course, not necessary that the legs 21 and 23 have the same length as legs 13 and 16 but the latter must be long enough to permit the fork of a lift truck or the like to pass freely under the pallet board.

Although suitable bracing may be provided for the end frames if necessary, the open construction of the end frames as shown permits a lifting fork to approach with equal facility from all four sides. This is an advantage not found in most conventional pallets.

I claim:

1. A pallet comprising a fiat, rectangular load carrying member such as a pallet board, a pair of end frames each comprising a single bar bent to figure 8 configuration, said bar having a straight horizontal portion on the lower side of the frame forming a pallet runner extending approximately the width of said member, said bar having a straight horizontal portion on the upper side of the frame extending approximately the width of said member forming a support for the runner of a second pallet stacked on top of said first pallet, said bar having a straight horizontal portion extending approximately the width of said member at intermediate height in said frame, one end of said bar being upturned from one end of said lower horizontal portion to form a leg between said lower and intermediate portions, and the opposite end of said bar being downturned from one end of said upper horizontal portion to form a leg between said intermediate and upper portions, said load carrying member beingsecured to its ends to said intermediate horizontal portion of said bar in each frame.

2. A pallet as defined in claim 1, said ends of said bar being connected to opposite ends of said intermediate horizontal portion.

3. A pallet as defined in claim 1, said bar having a cross-sectional shape such that the upper side of said upper horizontal portion will interfit with the runner of said second pallet in stacking.

4. A pallet as defined in claim 3, said bar being a channel bar.

5. A pallet as defined in claim 4, the upper side of the bar in concave and the lower side being convex. 

1. A pallet comprising a flat, rectangular load carrying member such as a pallet board, a pair of end frames each comprising a single bar bent to figure 8 configuration, said bar having a straight horizontal portion on the lower side of the frame forming a pallet runner extending approximately the width of said member, said bar having a straight horizontal portion on the upper side of the frame extending approximately the width of said member forming a support for the runner of a second pallet stacked on top of said first pallet, said bar having a straight horizontal portion extending approximately the width of said member at intermediate height in said frame, one end of said bar being upturned from one end of said lower horizontal porTion to form a leg between said lower and intermediate portions, and the opposite end of said bar being downturned from one end of said upper horizontal portion to form a leg between said intermediate and upper portions, said load carrying member being secured to its ends to said intermediate horizontal portion of said bar in each frame.
 2. A pallet as defined in claim 1, said ends of said bar being connected to opposite ends of said intermediate horizontal portion.
 3. A pallet as defined in claim 1, said bar having a cross-sectional shape such that the upper side of said upper horizontal portion will interfit with the runner of said second pallet in stacking.
 4. A pallet as defined in claim 3, said bar being a channel bar.
 5. A pallet as defined in claim 4, the upper side of the bar in said runner portion and said upper horizontal portion being concave and the lower side being convex. 